April 24, 2009

If I could whisper something in Santa's ear, this Apple iPhonerequest would be on it's way to the North Pole in an Internet instant!!Oh boy, would I love to have this 3G iPhone. We stopped by the store today to discuss my latest technology 'must have', and I got to play with someone else's techno toy with all its magical whistles and bells.But alas, the only accomplishment at the store was to remove Internet service altogether from my current phone. I've been paying $15 extra a month for service that never works on my cell phone anyway (even though they told me it would when I got it!).I had to growl just a little bit when the salesman informed me that I'm not eligible for an "upgrade' until December 2009! That's because my phone QUIT working last April and I was FORCED to upgrade in order to have any phone at all. How much sense that does that make? Or cents, for that matter, either?My fellow classmates in nursing school whip out their iPhones or Blackberry's anytime we need information. They are so neat in how one can access most anything in an instant! WebMD, medical terminology, medication look-ups, Google, (not to mention sneaking a peak at email).I looked online for Apple iPhones later today and see where I could get a refurbished one for $99 but would have to pay the $30 for the Internet service, plus at least $40 for minutes each month, above and beyond what I'm already doing for our current cell phones (that don't even do Internet).So, with a bit of sadness but feeling like I'm doing the right thing, I've decided to use good "cent-sable" judgement and forgo my craving for this delicate but intricate machine that would make my life so much more fun and engaging.I write this so anyone who thinks I'm a wuss for eating dark chocolate and drinking cold diet Dr. Pepper for breakfast will now know that sometimes I do use my better judgement and am capable of saying "no' once in a while.I feel better knowing that a couple of you feel just a tad bit sorry for me. ha haNext time you feel sad because you really can't afford something you really, really WANT, think of my silver-black iPhone still sitting on the shelf at the store.Take Care on the Journey,~Linda

April 19, 2009

If you use coupons, check out my article at my coupon blog HERE. Many K-Mart stores all over the USA are offering double and triple coupons this week. (None in Oregon, sorry Billy and Colleen.) SC is offering in select cities. But, yes for Tampa, FL.!)

April 15, 2009

"Mom, there's a shooter and we're in lock down. We're in a little office...Looking for news about what's going on..."

Good thing I got this message AFTER the all-clear call from oldest son in Portland, Oregon.

He knows my ear is always to the ground (except when I'm in class and can't keep my phone on) and alert to the major activities of the nation and world. In this case, the "shooter' was a depressed person who never did shoot anyone at the college where my son teaches Spanish, but for about 45 minutes 'oldest son' was in a bit of a 'situation' locked in a hot office with about 10 other somewhat nervous people.

I believe this was a wake-up call for several people, and the incident caused my teacher-son to consider what actions he would take if this type of situation occurred while he was actually teaching - And what situation I might be in as a first-responder should something like this happen where I'm working as a nurse. Finally, it's good to be able to look back with relief that everything worked out well. We don't believe anything bad happened to the person who started this either.

IN other news...I did very good in my tests last week. Much better than I had anticipated, in fact. I only missed one question on the A&P test. (Yes, the dreaded A&P test!) Whew!

The two days a week at the nursing home are no fun for me. (Tuesdays and Thursdays) We're aren't challenged, and the day drags so slowly! It's always extremely HOT in there, and my back always hurts no matter what the assignment. For the record, the instructor is very nice and I will miss her a lot when we leave in 4 weeks.

The GOOD news is that we've reserved our Smoky Mountain Cabin at Westgate Resortsnear Gatlinburg, TN for the week's break in September! My sister and husband plan to join us AND perhaps oldest son and his girlfriend. Maybe even youngest son, but we don't know his schedule yet. Anyway, this is all 'breaking news', so will update more later. Already, my sister and I are very excited about this gettogether as we haven't done something fun like this in many, many years. Yippee!!!!!

In the meantime, we have some taxes to get in the mail tonight and I have to get my uniform ready for in the morning.

By the way, hubby says he listened to the YouTube of Susan Boylesinging three times today, and this is probably the first YouTube he's ever watched!!!!

April 4, 2009

Update: As of last count today, 7,703 nurses had read my article, There's A Mouse Trap In My Med Cart posted on allnurses.com. (My login name is 99percentangel over there.) There are 47 heartrending comments from nurses nationwide showing a genuine concern for the position we are forced to be in with the present regulations regarding nurse to patient ratio. You can follow the comments at this link. http://allnurses.com/nursing-articles/theres-mousetrap-my-376773.html (I hope this link works. I won't know until I post this.)

(As posted on my blog at http://dustyangels.blogspot.com)Sometimes I lay awake at night and wonder where I'll work when I finish school and get my RN license. (January 2010). There are a few jobs I know I don't want and some I've thought about, but so far, I'm not finding opportunities where patient comfort and teamwork is paramount with nursing care.

Just last week I witnessed some situations as a student nurse that continue to haunt me. At the time, I told myself that I'm just a student nurse - there to learn and not teach! But, maybe I should have gone to my instructor anyway and asked that something be done.

I'll be discrete and perhaps change the actual events a little to protect identity, but on one assignment, a couple of us student nurses followed a director from another department (not nursing) as she did her job. When we entered a room, the patient was surrounded by family as he lay quietly with several machines attached. I immediately noticed that a tube going into his stomach (NG) was not attached like it should be. The tape had come loose and the tube could have slipped out with any movement or tug. I also noted that the machine for his nourishment was turned off (which is sometimes done for an hour or two), but the feeding tube was still attached to the machine which meant that the tube would be clogged by the time the machine was turned back on. (It's supposed to be flushed with water and disconnected from the machine when the patient isn't getting his feeding.)

Now you may be asking why I didn't just fix the tube like it should be. This is where there's a fine line between being a student and being a nurse! I did go and find his nurse and told her I noticed these two things. Her response was, "I know. I turned it off. It's no problem," as she walked down the hall in the opposite direction of his room.

Another time I was asked to do a blood draw on a PICC line (going directly into the heart). We couldn't find the patient in her room, so I started asking the regular nurses, charge nurse, unit clerk and unit coordinator if they had seen this patient. Not one of them knew this patient by name or room number. They looked up the room number on the computer to give me his name (which I already knew) and suggested I go look in the medication record for his picture. I was saddened that these nurses who work there every day didn't know the name or face of a patient who had been in their care for several weeks.

It's not really their fault. It's the system that puts more emphasis on making money than real patient care. The nurses who actually have patient contact spend all their time rushing through the med pass from start to finish of their shift. Most of the other staff have assignments so heavy that they only see the patient on the computer! The nursing assistants who actually 'touch' the patients have such a big assignment that they rush from one patient to another answering call lights, passing food trays, giving baths as fast as they can, and feeding those who can't feed themselves, so they have no time to provide anything extra or spend more time with someone who really needs it. (Those of you have ever worked as a CNA know what I mean.)

Living in the capital city of Ohio, I could have the opportunity to work in some of the finest medical facilities in the country such as Ohio State, Riverside Hospital, Children's Hospital, the many facilities of Ohio Health, and many more more. But, I want to make a difference to the patients - and the more I look at these websites - the less I see about patient care. It worries me.

I will be a Registered Nurse. I will work where I can make a difference to my patients and my coworkers. I know there are many rules and regulations, but I won't give up my belief that there is a place where patient comfort and tender loving care can be offered while working with a professional caring team who wants to provide both AND keep the facility in good standing.

My Memoir - "Dusty Angels and Old Diaries" by Linda Meikle

When I was three-years-old, my mother disappeared suddenly and without a trace, leaving behind her four small children to be taken by the state of New York. The thirty-year journey I took to find her and all my family again.
A Book For Women Who Want To Be Strong.

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Published author, Dusty Angels and Old Diaries. Walt Disney said, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” I’ve done what many have said would be impossible, but only because I believed it was possible! Along the way, two sons blessed my life, and two husbands changed my life. Nursing brought fulfillment. Writing filled an emptiness. Photography added beauty. The piano instilled peace. Poetry found creativity and relativity. My family brings completeness. My hubby believes in me and the universe. The universe says it all.